What is Australia’s most famous painting?

By David Hulme & Brigitte Banziger, on 03-Jun-2012

If you ask the man in the street, the most likely answers are going to be Tom Roberts’ Shearing the Rams 1890 at the NGV, or his Bailed up, 1895, Art Gallery of NSW or Frederick McCubbin’s Down on his luck,  1889, Art Gallery WA, and the 20th century doesn’t even get a look-in. But what about this portrait of Vincent van Gogh by our very own John Peter Russell? David Hulme and Brigitte Banziger spoke with Teio Meedendorp, researcher at the van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, who allowed them a rare glimpse behind the scenes and the story of Australia’s unacknowledged most famous painting.

Even though van Gogh painted numerous self portraits, there are only three portraits painted by the artist’s contemporaries Paul Gauguin, Henri Toulouse-Lautrec and John Peter Russell, all now in the van Gogh museum collection. Gauguin’s portrait shows a weary, sick man, Lautrec’s pastel is a profile, and Russell’s painting alone has the famous artist looking straight at the viewer.

Much has been written about this expatriate impressionist with the now illustrious friends and acquaintances he made when living in France from the 1880s onwards,  Vincent van Gogh, Claude Monet, Paul Gauguin, Henri Matisse and Auguste Rodin. Russell’s Belle-isle paintings now regularly sell for well over $500,000. His highest auction price was for Two Boys on the Beach  which sold for $ 1.8 million incl. buyer’s premium in May 2007 at Sotheby’s. In May 2011, although it was offered again for sale with greatly reduced estimates of $400,000-600,000, it passed in on the night and reputedly sold after the auction with a loss of more than $1 million.

Getting to see Russell’s painting of van Gogh up close and personal was going to be an extraordinary treat. Teio Meedendorp pointed out that this was an extremely important painting in the museum collection which holds 200 paintings, 500 drawings and 700 letters by van Gogh .

Even though van Gogh painted numerous self portraits, there are hardly any images of him by other artists or for that matter even a photograph, as he hated being photographed. There is only one confirmed photograph of Vincent in adult life – with his back turned to the camera, so his face is not visible, and only three portraits painted by the artist’s contemporaries Paul Gauguin, Henri Toulouse-Lautrec and John Peter Russell, all now in the van Gogh museum collection. Gauguin’s portrait shows a weary, sick man, Lautrec’s pastel is a profile, and Russell’s painting alone has the famous artist looking straight at the viewer.

Today, even the van Gogh specialists believe the Russell portrait to offer the best likeness of Vincent. It is documented that van Gogh liked this work very much, and  recent research unveiled the dedication Vincent - JP Russell – Pictor - Amitie – Paris 1886. *

Russell gave it to van Gogh and got in exchange a painting Three pairs of shoes.  The portrait passed down the van Gogh family, from his brother Theo to Theo’s widow and then their son William Vincent van Gogh who gifted the entire collection to the state.

It seems that the portrait was at one time much lighter, with the darkening over time making it look much more academic than it really is, as Teio Meedendorp remarked. He pointed out the hints of impressionism in Russell’s van Gogh portrait, similarly to how van Gogh’s style was about to change in Paris.

There are no immediate plans to restore the work. It is exhibited regularly at the van Gogh museum, in particular when it is used as a document to van Gogh’s life.

In September this year, the only true image of van Gogh will leave storage and travel to Japan as the van Gogh museum is closing while undergoing refurbishment – affording a chance closer to home to see what perhaps should be known as Australia’s most famous painting.

* Watch the van Gogh museum video with researcher Teio Meedendorp and Devi Ormond, conservator, discussing the portrait of Vincent van Gogh by John Peter Russell. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6z46c93SXQ

About The Author

Brigitte Banziger and David Hulme are the principals of Banziger Hulme Fine Art Consultants, established since 2003. With their combined experience of over 40 years, they provide private collectors as well as companies and public institutions with independent expert art valuations. In addition to their appraisals for insurance, family law, deceased estates and market values, they assist clients with transparent advice when buying or selling an individual artwork or an entire collection, for some of Australia’s most significant private collectors. David Hulme is an approved valuer for the Australian Government’s Cultural Gifts Program, and both Brigitte and David are members of the Art Consulting Association of Australia, where David served as President from 2015 to 2019. David Hulme is a regular art market critic and commentator on the Australian art market and has been interviewed by numerous media, including the 'Australian Financial Review', 'The Australian' and 'The Sydney Morning Herald'. He has also been interviewed on Network 10’s 'The Project', on the ABC’s Radio National Breakfast show with Hamish MacDonald, the ABC’s 'The Business' program amongst many others.

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